The Republic of Vanuatu, a nation mainly composed of 13 major islands in the Pacific Ocean between Australia and Fiji, was established in 1980 following a negotiated independence from joint British and French administrations. The management of and rights to use land — important considering that the archipelago’s economy traditionally includes subsistence farming and cash crop agricultural trades — was a defining element of Vanuatu’s early politics and pro-independence movement.
Background
Noted for stability and relative success in addressing food security, the Republic of Vanuatu faced hurdles due to natural disasters, in particular an earthquake in 2002 and Cyclone Pam in 2005. These natural disasters have impacted efforts to increase food security and reduce the effects of poverty, such as inadequate infrastructure and access to essential resources. Though Vanuatu generally outperforms other nations with similar geography and wealth, poverty and food security remain ongoing policy challenges where an international presence remains prominent.
More than 20% of the population experienced food insecurity and 28.5% of children under 5 years old experienced stunting. Additionally, obesity from unhealthy foods and unvaried diets is more widespread, with more than 35% of men and 49% of women overweight.
Dietary nutrition and diversity hurdles were clear following Cyclone Pam due to the quality of emergency foods distributed; a majority of the aid was composed of packaged noodles, tinned meat and other packaged goods directly associated with hypertension and poor nutritional and health outcomes. Fortunately, there are efforts to improve agriculture in Vanuatu to address challenges regarding food security.
Programs Aid in Strengthening Essential Local Farming
With more than 75% of the population rural and employed in the agricultural field, efforts to improve the resilience of farmers and the local networks that trade crops have been integral to improving resilience and food security. These market vendors and traders are often key to the local economy, additionally providing economic stability to those in rural areas, where the ability to seek secure employment remains narrow.
Novel investment in programs intended to bolster both production in agriculture in Vanuatu and the economic infrastructure dependent upon farming has developed new means that have provided the basis for new ways of providing international assistance. These approaches, which the United Nations is currently spearheading, include programs intended to give farmers and market vendors access to funds and education programs to allow the expansion of the number and size of markets, especially rural cooperatives.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP)
This regionally tailored approach is also the source of experimentation to improve resilience in crop growth, with investments from regional development organizations, such as the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP). In 2022, SPREP announced participation in the establishment of the OSCAR system, a computerized system that compiles information related to climate and the effect of climate on crops, which allows for crop management techniques to be adjusted for conditions.
These programs allow farmers to maximize productivity and are widely accessible, with standardized bulletins issued via radio, television, print and over the Internet. These investments should improve resilience, food supply and diversity, including during natural disasters.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Vanuatu is also pursuing additional international funding to provide direct financial support to informational-gathering initiatives with the Vanuatuan government. In 2022, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization announced a $300,000 partnership with various multinational organizations, including the European Union and the Vanuatu Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Bio-Security to fund and develop a comprehensive census on the socioeconomic demographics of those in the agricultural industries and the state of agriculture.
This and other resources are for use in developing policies and reforms that improve output, food security, the ability to grow farming output and the economic potential of those living outside urban centers.
Global Implications for Vanuatuan Developments
These innovations and novel approaches to development, which both permit local participation and diverse environments influence the role of aid to reflect the needs and assets, such as Vanuatu’s substantial trading networks of markets, to strengthen the impact of global efforts to enhance food security and reduce economic insecurity. Additionally, methods seeking to improve agricultural yields and novel information-gathering systems have the potential to be utilized elsewhere, including in developed nations, where lessons learned in countries pursuing experimental approaches can be expanded upon.
– Cormac Sullivan
Photo: Flickr
Agricultural Technology Alleviates Rural Poverty in Latin America
Latin America is known for its agricultural lands that grow and harvest some of America’s favorite products: coffee and avocados. The region’s agricultural sector makes up a high percentage of the economy and its vast, rural lands are enriched with agrobiodiversity. Rural inhabitants, 18% of the overall population, make up 29% of the poor population. Investing in technology within the agricultural industry has proven that it can help reduce the high rates of rural poverty in Latin America, and here is how.
Job Creation
Poverty levels remain high in rural Latin America where agriculture is the dominant line of work. According to a recent study, about 77 million rural inhabitants in the region are confronted with a “connectivity gap.” This gap not only impedes their access to technology, but, according to The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), also creates “a barrier to health, education, social services, work, and the overall economy.” Providing rural inhabitants equal access to technology can potentially increase their food production and “break the vicious cycle generating insecurity, poverty and migration.”
Universally, as a result of rural farmers adopting technology in developed countries, it has boosted productivity within the agriculture sector leading to the creation of more jobs and rising incomes. According to the IICA, a 1% increase in wireless internet penetration would result in an overall 0.15% GDP increase, in comparison to the “fixed broadband penetration that would result in a 0.08% increase in GDP” for the region.
Sustainable Development
Recent reports from the World Bank demonstrate that Latin America’s role in the “agri-food system” is “technically inefficient, socially inequitable, fiscally irresponsible, and environmentally unsustainable.”
The IICA is designing technological tools suitable, equitable and inclusive to use to sustain and enhance Latin America’s agricultural development. Apart from creating these tech tools, the IICA is being mindful of the low-skilled workers and the rural connectivity gap, introducing them to information and communication technology (ICT), which, in turn, has proved to have helped rural living conditions in Latin America. Technological changes in the region’s agricultural sustainability can augment production growth and trade, create new jobs, raise incomes, preserve natural resources and reduce food and nutrition insecurity and rural poverty in Latin America.
In February 2022, the U.N.’s International Fund for Agricultural Development launched Innovatech. This type of agricultural technology is helping to alleviate rural poverty in five Latin American countries: Bolivia, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. This project is assisting rural development, small-scale farmers and rural inhabitants by ensuring that farmers have access to modern technology, tools and services to prosper in today’s agricultural economy. Innovatech has so far helped 9,000 rural households and is striving to improve more linkages with smallholder farmers across the region.
The lack of developing new technology is hindering the agricultural sector in Latin America. Specific numbers on productivity, job creation, income and poverty reduction as a result of technology adoption are excruciatingly scarce, yet tech projects like Innovatech are making an effort to take the first steps of documenting — and alleviating — rural poverty in Latin America.
– Amy Contreras
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in Taiwan
Tensions between the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan have remained high since the Second World War. China continues to claim that Taiwan should be considered a part of its mainland by putting forward the “One China Policy.”
Taiwan also has a different method of measuring poverty. There is a relative poverty line, and the poverty threshold is different for every region. Only around 2% of the population is considered to be poor. However, income inequality is prevalent as more than 65% of workers earn a below-average salary in Taiwan. If a person’s income crosses even slightly above the poverty threshold for a particular area, then benefits and aid become scarce. Here are five charities operating in Taiwan that are helping both locally and internationally to rapidly decrease the rate of poverty.
Tzu Chi
Tzu Chi means “relieving suffering with compassion.” The compassion relief organization was founded in Hualien City in May 1996 by Dharma Master Cheng Yen. One of the Buddhist charities in Taiwan, Tzu Chi believes in healing spiritual poverty, by “spreading the essential values of love and compassion to all.” It has established grassroots volunteers across the world and has up to seven bases in the United Kingdom, including Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester and London.
Tzu Chi believes in “educating the rich to help the poor; inspiring the poor to realize their riches.” It spreads a message of universal love and encourages bringing out good in everyone. In February 2023, it fundraised and mobilized aid for the disastrous 7.8 magnitude earthquakes in Turkey. The charity provided warm blankets and food. The local Tzu Chi volunteers in Turkey also provided citizens with gift cards to buy supplies from supermarkets.
Garden of Hope
Garden of Hope is a charity that is fighting gender-based violence in Taiwan. It was established in 1986 by Angie Golmon, Liang-Wan Hui and a group of Christian missionaries. It was one of the first charities in Taiwan to help girls rehabilitate and heal from sexual abuse. It spreads the values of justice and love by actively preventing sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and domestic violence of children and women.
More than 68% of women to whom the charity has provided aid have significantly lowered the risk of being in a violent environment. About 76% of women have been aided to start work and become financially independent. More than 75% of children who are victims of domestic violence have been provided with therapy and feel that they can protect themselves better.
Ti Hwei
Ti Hwei is a charitable nursery that fosters orphans and underprivileged children by providing them with shelter and education. Tang Lesong founded the charity in 1980 using their own savings and loans from relatives to establish a sports welfare kindergarten. Lesong’s passion has encouraged more destitute families to reach out and ask for help.
Ti Hwei also launched a project called Kyobo Croner with the mission of helping children attain long-term placement in an establishment that can provide personal care, education and training services.
The Mustard Seed Mission
The Mustard Seed Mission believes that “the mustard seed can grow into a big tree and bear fruits for others under proper care.”
The Foundation offers initial funding for small startup projects initiated by churches globally. It aims to support these projects as a minority partner, providing financial assistance for a defined period while fostering self-sustainability and reliance on the local church.
The Foundation is one of the first registered welfare charities operating in Taiwan. It was established by the late missionary Lillian R. Dickson, often called the “Mother of Orphans” in Taiwan, after the Second World War. Initially, the organization provided medical clinics and vocational training. Now, the Foundation extends grants to churches and Christian organizations worldwide, particularly for new ministry endeavors encompassing outreach, discipleship and economic empowerment.
The ongoing “Sprout of Love!” project continues to help more than 5,000 disadvantaged children in Taiwan.
The Children Are Us Foundation
The Children Are Us Foundation is a charity focused on supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. It was established in June 1995 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan by parents of intellectually disabled individuals. The organization’s primary objective is to nurture and empower the untapped potential of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
The heartwarming and self-reliant reputation of Children Are Us has now become a significant symbol for intellectually disabled individuals in Taiwan. Notably, the Children Are Us bakery and restaurant have emerged as successful models of social enterprise in Taiwan, benefiting both the public and its employees.
All of these charities operating in Taiwan are actively shaping a brighter future for the country. Despite the misleading poverty rate measurements, such charities create positive change on a local level and will shape generations to come.
– Sharvi Rana
Photo: Pixabay
US Aid To Poverty-Stricken Areas in Libya
Knowing the crises faced by the Libyan population since the end of the dictatorship in 2011, poverty, development and security have continued to deteriorate. Therefore, taking into account that the U.S. is one of the countries that provides the most international aid, it is important to analyze U.S. aid to poverty-stricken areas in Libya.
How the US Operates in Libya
U.S. aid to poverty-stricken areas in Libya is mostly carried out by the USAID agency and the U.S. embassy in Libya. While the embassy identifies, selects and reports on the weak areas of development that are most in the interest of the U.S., USAID acts with intervention and direct assistance in such areas. Therefore, USAID’s aid work involves partnerships with NGOs, local institutions and international organizations, such as the World Bank.
USAID Work
The main investment focus areas for the agency are development, security and humanitarian assistance. Regarding development, USAID focuses on the country’s economic growth, and its strategies are mostly executed in partnership with the government. The project is called the Public Financial Management of Libya (LPFM) with an implementation target between 2019 and 2024 and with $55 million invested to strengthen the capacity of the Central Bank of Libya to meet the needs of the population. The main development targets are energy and banking, with the most notable key results being helping to stabilize the electricity grid at a 63% increase in electricity production and aligning the banking sector with global best practices in order to facilitate liquidity and financial services for the private sector.
With regard to humanitarian assistance from USAID to poverty-stricken areas in Libya, the work is carried out by USAID’s Humanitarian Assistance Bureau, with the largest involvement being made during the COVID-19 crisis (2020-2021) with a total investment of $21.5 million. In this sense, taking into account that one of the main causes of the need for humanitarian assistance was the conflicts and crises experienced in the country since 2011 (a moment of political instability due to the end of the dictatorship), USAID’s role is focused on assistance in such crises. Such work is focused on providing health support (including mental and emotional), protection and shelter, and from 2011 to 2022 USAID provided a total of $11.2 million in humanitarian assistance.
The Job of the US Embassy in Libya
The current work of the U.S. through the embassy is to draw attention to and cooperate with USAID’s efforts to intervene in human trafficking in Libya. This is done in partnership with the local government through records and case reports, normative evolution to prevent trafficking crimes and penalize those involved and signal and change weaknesses in the system (political or legal) and in society that lead to human trafficking.
The main laws against human trafficking are articles 418, 419 and 420 of the penal code, which criminalize forms of sex trafficking with penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine.
U.S. intervention in human trafficking encompasses aid in poverty-stricken areas in Libya and assistance in investigation and enforcement, providing support to the local government and acting in concert with the efforts and assistance of NGOs and other international organizations to stop the trafficking system more effectively.
– Letícia L. Lacerda
Photo: Flickr
4 Charities Operating in Sri Lanka
4 Charities Operating in Sri Lanka
These charities operating in Sri Lanka provide support to the country’s most impoverished people amid the deteriorating conditions of the economic crisis.
– Jess Wilkinson
Photo: Flickr
Providing Support to Refugees in the Netherlands
Clothing Waste
Replacing damaged but reparable clothes with new clothes results in unnecessary expenses and, on a large scale, the disposal of clothes has both environmental and health impacts. Overall, the World Economic Forum says the clothing industry accounts for about a tenth of man-made CO2 emissions, and oftentimes, the clothes that people discard are disposed of via burning, releasing toxic chemicals into the air.
Moreover, the cotton used to produce various items of clothing, such as jeans and t-shirts, requires significant amounts of water that people could otherwise use to meet their clean drinking water needs. In fact, in just half a century, the massive uptick of cotton production in Uzbekistan caused almost the entire Aral Sea (actually a lake) to dry up, the World Economic Forum says.
However, by working with large-scale clothing companies such as Patagonia, Lululemon and Decathlon to repair damaged articles of clothing, the United Repair Centre is reducing clothing waste and reducing the demand for new clothing that puts a strain on environmental resources.
Support to Refugees in the Netherlands
In 2022, the Netherlands saw a significant influx of refugees. More specifically, in 2021, the total population of refugees in the Netherlands stood at just under 100,000. But, in 2022, that number increased to almost 220,000, with the majority of refugees coming from countries like Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen, where there are ongoing humanitarian crises. Starting over in a new country with nothing but the bags on their backs, refugees face several barriers when arriving in a host country. Apart from difficult living conditions in overcrowded asylum accommodations with limited access to health care, education and other essential resources, refugees struggle to secure paid work to move toward financial stability.
Recognizing these adversities, the United Repair Centre endeavors to help by supporting refugees in the Netherlands. The center hires refugees as employees, offering positions to both those with relevant work experience in their former home countries and those with no previous experience. For those with no experience, the center offers on-the-job training. The center intends to launch an officially certified training course in clothing repair work so that refugees have higher chances of securing future employment with a qualification.
As of July 2023, the United Repair Centre employs 20 full-time workers who are either “economic migrants or refugees.” In addition to providing vocational opportunities, the United Repair Centre also helps its employees adjust to the new host country by pointing them to essential services such as free language classes, legal support and housing services. One such employee benefiting from the support of the center is a Syrian refugee named Ramzi, who uses the opportunities given to him by the United Repair Centre to support his family.
Looking Ahead
As the humanitarian crises around the world continue, the numbers of refugees and asylum seekers continue to rise. The challenges for these people do not end once they have successfully sought asylum in a new country. Refugees and asylum seekers face barriers that include social and cultural integration and a lack of access to adequate health care, education, employment and other critical resources and services necessary for a prosperous life. In this regard, the United Repair Centre offers a lifeline of support to refugees in the Netherlands by providing them with vocational opportunities and assistance in integrating into a new country. In the process of doing so, the center helps to save the environment by repairing damaged clothes, which reduces clothing waste and production. As the United Repair Centre continues to expand as a for-profit social enterprise, the enterprise’s impact will continue to grow.
– Athan Yanos
Photo: Flickr
Rebuilding Lives: Sustainable Housing for Displaced Syrians
From Displacement to Dignity: The Syrian Conflict’s Toll
The decade-long Syrian conflict has uprooted countless families from their homes, with millions of displaced persons forced into makeshift shelters, refugee camps or onto the streets. Approximately, 5.5 million Syrian refugees have fled to neighboring countries out of more than 14 million citizens who had to abandon their homes in search of safety. This dire situation has not only stripped individuals of their fundamental dignity but has also compounded issues related to poverty, education and health care access.
Holistic Approach: Beyond Shelter
Sustainable housing projects are utilizing a holistic approach to addressing the multifaceted challenges that Syrians face. These initiatives go beyond the mere provision of shelter, integrating environmental sustainability, economic empowerment and community engagement into their core principles.
The United Nations Human Settlements Program underscores the fundamental importance of decent and affordable housing in breaking the cycle of poverty. This resonates profoundly with the sustainable housing projects, which offer shelter and provide a pathway to improved livelihoods and access to education. By incorporating sustainability principles, these projects echo the call for housing as a basic human right and a key instrument in poverty alleviation.
Turkey and Qatar’s Joint Initiative
In May 2023, Turkey’s Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu announced that Turkey and Qatar have joined hands to construct 240,000 sustainable houses in Northern Syria. With more than 1 million Syrian people seeking refuge in Turkey, this project would allow for the voluntary return of Syrians to Syria, easing the strain on Turkey. This monumental undertaking not only addresses the critical housing shortage but also highlights the commitment of these nations to alleviate the suffering of displaced Syrians. The collaboration goes beyond bricks and mortar, aiming to foster sustainable communities that empower residents to overcome adversity.
Additionally, in February 2023, the Qatar Charity completed the first phase of a housing project for internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in camps in Northwest Syria. Beyond immediate relief, such efforts enhance the overall stability of affected regions, fostering resilience and providing a platform for families to rebuild their lives. OCHA’s Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF) funds this project, which involves constructing “250 housing units, each consisting of two rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom, replacing the tents with homes. The project also seeks to build 54 other housing units for IDPs families in other camps,” ReliefWeb says.
Grassroots Campaigns and Cultural Empowerment
The power of grassroots campaigns cannot be underestimated in this global effort. Campaigns such as “Let’s Build a Sustainable Village in Syria“ by Human Concern International allow individuals from across the globe can contribute to funding the construction of homes for those in need. The project has managed to fundraise about $615,000 to give families some sense of stability and security through sustainable shelter. This collective action not only provides sustainable housing for displaced Syrians but also empowers ordinary citizens to make a lasting impact on the lives of the Syrian population, emphasizing the unity required to combat global poverty.
A Testament to Resilience and Humanity
In the wake of adversity, sustainable housing for displaced Syrians shines as a testament to resilience and humanity’s capacity for positive change. Through international collaborations, grassroots endeavors and innovative architectural solutions, the fight against global poverty takes on a tangible form. As displaced families find solace and new beginnings within these sustainable shelters, the world witnesses the transformative impact of compassion and unity in the face of adversity.
– Valentin Lyazov
Photo: Unsplash
Addressing the Energy Crisis in South Africa
Loadshedding
The government began implementing loadshedding in 2007 in order to prevent total nationwide blackouts and reduce the strain on the national electricity grid. These rolling blackouts still continue today as the energy crisis in South Africa has only worsened. President Cyril Ramaphosa stated in February 2023, “We are therefore declaring a national state of disaster to respond to the electricity crisis and its effect.” Loadshedding refers to the deliberate and controlled process of cutting power for specific periods of time with the aim of conserving energy when the demand for energy exceeds the levels of supply.
Eskom, the current state-owned power company, faces a myriad of challenges that have impacted its operations. The company has liabilities of $26 billion as of February 2022 and relies on outdated infrastructure. Malfunctioning power stations compromise Eskom’s ability to deliver reliable energy supplies. Adding to this, strikes by Eskom workers demanding higher pay exacerbate an already precarious situation.
Government Debt Relief for Eskom
In South Africa, the economy grew 0.4% at the start of 2023; the low rate reflects the impact of the energy crisis on the economy. Crippling power cuts have been a key chess piece in the country’s weak economic performance. However, in February 2023 the government of South Africa vowed to take on the growing debt of Eskom, with a debt relief package of R254 billion over three years. The debt relief will allow the state-owned enterprise to prioritize expanding the national energy grid through renewable energy plants. This is a long-term investment to stabilize the country’s power grid. Though the debt relief will not end the power cuts short term, this commitment will help put South Africa on the path to energy stability and sustainability.
Potential Solutions and Solar Energy
Solutions to the energy crisis are complex and come with extensive challenges. As South Africa heavily depends on coal for power generation, the nation stands as the 12th largest carbon-emitting country, according to Reuters. South Africa is looking to increase its renewable energy capacity, especially through greater reliance on solar energy and is looking to China for technology and equipment in this regard. Reuters reports, “The country has up to 66 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar projects in the pipeline… more than 5,500 megawatts (MW) out of this would come online by 2026.”
The energy crisis in South Africa has affected the economy and the lives of civilians, plunging many into poverty and debt. Moreover, blackouts impact daily life in several areas and impede productivity. While there is no quick-fix solution to the energy challenges in South Africa, the South African government’s implementation of debt relief for Eskom will reduce the economic strain on Eskom and will allow Eskom to prioritize new infrastructure and increase renewable energy sources. With a more stable electricity grid, South Africa could see poverty declining and the economy growing more significantly.
– April Plenderleith
Photo: Flickr
How Iraq Eliminated Trachoma
What is Trachoma?
Trachoma, caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, is a disease affecting the eyes. If left untreated, trachoma may cause irreversible blindness. Symptoms of the infection include inflammation of the eyelids, swollen lymph nodes and discharge from the eye. Nearly 2 million people have suffered visual impairment from the neglected tropical disease, and nearly 125 million live in areas where trachoma is endemic.
The disease is spread through direct or indirect contact with the eyes or nose of an infected person, with poor sanitation and hygiene serving as major risk factors for exacerbated transmission. Because of this, trachoma predominantly affects regions with little access to clean water and a higher population density.
Iraq’s Efforts
In order to combat the spread of this disease, Iraq introduced a program to monitor trachoma among its population in 2012. The screening system was introduced in Iraq’s eye care facilities, as well as through in-school eye screening programs.
The program involved thousands of eye care specialists and health care workers dedicated to combating trachoma as a public health issue. Through these measures, Iraq was able to successfully counter the unchecked spread of trachoma and treat patients in need of antibiotics.
Mitigating the Spread
The elimination of trachoma was made possible through a number of approaches to improve public health. In order to properly address the spread of the disease, the WHO recommends a number of policies designed to reduce the spread and progression of trachoma.
The SAFE strategy has shown to be very effective in combating trachoma and is encouraged in many countries facing issues of endemic trachoma. This strategy includes Surgery for those dealing with advanced stages of the disease, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvements — particularly improvements in sanitation.
The Impacts
Trachoma significantly affects living conditions and economic activity in Iraq. The elimination of trachoma within the country has the potential to significantly affect the quality of life and poverty in Iraq’s most vulnerable regions.
Accessibility of treatment and prevention in Iraq has reduced the risk of contraction and progression of trachoma. Areas previously affected by the disease now have a far lower risk of visual impairment and blindness as a result of the infection.
Trachoma’s global economic burden is estimated to be between $2 to 5 billion each year, centering around lost productivity as a result of vision loss. The elimination of trachoma provides a great deal of relief for regions most affected by the disease, including the potential for more economic stability.
Conclusion
Iraq’s success in eradicating trachoma serves as yet another step towards the global eradication of the disease. After Iraq eliminated trachoma, it became the fifth country in the region to successfully tackle the disease. This achievement demonstrates the importance of comprehensive approaches to public health issues, as well as the potential for further disease prevention in Iraq and abroad.
– Mary Burke
Photo: Flickr
Tackling Diphtheria in Nigeria
Diphtheria in Nigeria: Unraveling the Facts
Diphtheria is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease passed between hosts via direct contact or respiratory droplets. Its symptoms include a sore throat, difficulty breathing, fever or chills, swollen glands and the presence of a thick, gray membrane on the throat and tonsils.
Diphtheria is fatal in 5-10% of cases; however, without access to the appropriate antitoxins, it can have a fatality rate of up to 40%. As of August 2023, Nigeria’s outbreak has a fatality rate just below 9%. While this indicates that the outbreak has been more or less controlled, the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern that Nigeria does not possess enough antitoxin to continue battling the disease.
Those Most Vulnerable: Unimmunized Children
Unimmunized children are at particularly high risk of contracting diphtheria. Indeed, over 70% of Nigeria’s confirmed cases in 2023 affect children between the ages of 2 and 14. Of those afflicted, more than three-quarters had not received diphtheria immunization. This reflects a broader issue of vaccine access, disproportionately affecting low-income families who struggle to afford the time or transportation costs associated with vaccinating their children. As a result, only a third of Nigerian children are fully vaccinated, making those left behind vulnerable to diseases like diphtheria.
Striving for Change
In response to the increase of diphtheria in Nigeria, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Nigerian Center for Disease Control are procuring and supplying necessary supplies like masks, hand sanitizer and antibiotics to health care facilities. Additionally, they are prioritizing training health workers and volunteers in preventing the spread of and treating patients diagnosed with the disease. This includes ensuring that there is enough diphtheria antitoxin available to prevent the fatality rate from rising any higher.
In an effort to curb the long-term effects of diphtheria in Nigeria, these organizations are also transporting vaccines to communities all around the country, hoping to boost the population’s immunity in the short and long term.
The state of diphtheria in Nigeria reveals the intricate relationship between health and poverty. Because the 2023 outbreak has terrifying consequences for low-income families who cannot access vaccination or treatment for their children, it presents an opportunity to acknowledge and repair the country’s immunization landscape and health system. With attention to the needs of its most vulnerable, it is possible for Nigeria to relegate the grip diphtheria has on its children to its history and create a more resilient future for all.
– Faye Crawford
Photo: Pexels
How Farming Innovations Aid Agriculture in Vanuatu
The Republic of Vanuatu, a nation mainly composed of 13 major islands in the Pacific Ocean between Australia and Fiji, was established in 1980 following a negotiated independence from joint British and French administrations. The management of and rights to use land — important considering that the archipelago’s economy traditionally includes subsistence farming and cash crop agricultural trades — was a defining element of Vanuatu’s early politics and pro-independence movement.
Background
Noted for stability and relative success in addressing food security, the Republic of Vanuatu faced hurdles due to natural disasters, in particular an earthquake in 2002 and Cyclone Pam in 2005. These natural disasters have impacted efforts to increase food security and reduce the effects of poverty, such as inadequate infrastructure and access to essential resources. Though Vanuatu generally outperforms other nations with similar geography and wealth, poverty and food security remain ongoing policy challenges where an international presence remains prominent.
More than 20% of the population experienced food insecurity and 28.5% of children under 5 years old experienced stunting. Additionally, obesity from unhealthy foods and unvaried diets is more widespread, with more than 35% of men and 49% of women overweight.
Dietary nutrition and diversity hurdles were clear following Cyclone Pam due to the quality of emergency foods distributed; a majority of the aid was composed of packaged noodles, tinned meat and other packaged goods directly associated with hypertension and poor nutritional and health outcomes. Fortunately, there are efforts to improve agriculture in Vanuatu to address challenges regarding food security.
Programs Aid in Strengthening Essential Local Farming
With more than 75% of the population rural and employed in the agricultural field, efforts to improve the resilience of farmers and the local networks that trade crops have been integral to improving resilience and food security. These market vendors and traders are often key to the local economy, additionally providing economic stability to those in rural areas, where the ability to seek secure employment remains narrow.
Novel investment in programs intended to bolster both production in agriculture in Vanuatu and the economic infrastructure dependent upon farming has developed new means that have provided the basis for new ways of providing international assistance. These approaches, which the United Nations is currently spearheading, include programs intended to give farmers and market vendors access to funds and education programs to allow the expansion of the number and size of markets, especially rural cooperatives.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP)
This regionally tailored approach is also the source of experimentation to improve resilience in crop growth, with investments from regional development organizations, such as the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP). In 2022, SPREP announced participation in the establishment of the OSCAR system, a computerized system that compiles information related to climate and the effect of climate on crops, which allows for crop management techniques to be adjusted for conditions.
These programs allow farmers to maximize productivity and are widely accessible, with standardized bulletins issued via radio, television, print and over the Internet. These investments should improve resilience, food supply and diversity, including during natural disasters.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Vanuatu is also pursuing additional international funding to provide direct financial support to informational-gathering initiatives with the Vanuatuan government. In 2022, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization announced a $300,000 partnership with various multinational organizations, including the European Union and the Vanuatu Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Bio-Security to fund and develop a comprehensive census on the socioeconomic demographics of those in the agricultural industries and the state of agriculture.
This and other resources are for use in developing policies and reforms that improve output, food security, the ability to grow farming output and the economic potential of those living outside urban centers.
Global Implications for Vanuatuan Developments
These innovations and novel approaches to development, which both permit local participation and diverse environments influence the role of aid to reflect the needs and assets, such as Vanuatu’s substantial trading networks of markets, to strengthen the impact of global efforts to enhance food security and reduce economic insecurity. Additionally, methods seeking to improve agricultural yields and novel information-gathering systems have the potential to be utilized elsewhere, including in developed nations, where lessons learned in countries pursuing experimental approaches can be expanded upon.
– Cormac Sullivan
Photo: Flickr